The Door Into Summer
Chapter 34Stu was a few minutes early when he arrived at the office the next day but he knew he had nothing to worry about. Just as he suspected, Suzanne was already waiting for him in the parking lot. He pulled up next to her car and hurried to get out and open the door for her. "May I offer mademoiselle a ride?" he inquired.
"It depends on where you're going, kind sir," she answered.
"Let's see, some hospital, I believe. But I can go elsewhere if you prefer."
"Oh, no, the hospital would be fine. As long as it's not out of your way."
"No, mademoiselle, it's not out of my way." Stu laughed. "The coffee on the right is yours," he told her, pointing at the two cups sitting in the cup holder.
"Merci. I got up late and didn't have time to fix coffee."
"Gil and Ellen were glad to see you last night."
"And I them. The Lieutenant was looking quite spry last night."
Stu laughed while he made a right turn. "He always looks better when Flaherty isn't running after him calling 'Lieutenant? Oh, Lieutenant!'"
"And it's wonderful about him going home so soon."
"I'm sure that's what Jeff wants. I hope the doctors told him no."
Suzanne looked startled. "I thought you were the only one that disliked hospitals so."
Stu gave an imperceptible shake of the head. "Don't let that bright smile and innocent look of his fool you for a minute. He'd try to gnaw his leg off if that's what it took to get out of there."
"But why -?"
Stu shrugged his shoulders. "Probably goes back to the war."
"Is that where yours comes from?" Suzanne asked.
Stu gave a curt "No."
There was no more talking until they got to the hospital. Suzanne hadn't meant to, but it was obvious she'd stepped in something Stu didn't want to discuss. They stopped at the front desk to find Jeff's new room number, then headed up to the second floor. Locating him was much easier with him out of the ICU, and it didn't take long to arrive at room 212.
"Well, what are you two doing here so early?" Jeff was sitting up in bed, his left arm wrapped and a coffee cup in his right hand.
"Graduated to feeding ourselves, have we?" Stu asked. He didn't realize how much he'd missed his partner until he heard Jeff's voice, strong and clear, and saw him looking bright-eyed and ready to take on the world.
"Damn straight, Bailey. I can even comb my hair without help. Now all I have to do is convince the doctor . . . "
Stu cut him off and turned to Suzanne. "See? What did I tell you? He's ready to go, sure as I'm standing here."
Suzanne shook her head. "Jeff, you can't go home. There's no way you can take care of yourself."
"You could come take care of me," he offered, giving Suzanne his best smile.
"And who would help Stuart take care of Bailey and Spencer?" she shot back at him.
"Well . . . "
They were interrupted by a nurse, coming in to remove Jeff's breakfast tray. "Nurse Watkins, tell them what the doctor said yesterday."
"Do I have to, Mr. Spencer?"
Their banter resembled a well-rehearsed comedy routine, as if they'd practiced until they got it just right. "Yes, Nurse Watkins, you have to." Jeff looked at the nurse plaintively. "Please."
The nurse sighed. "Very well. Dr. North said he would let you to go home on Saturday if you would arrange for an ambulance to transport you, AND if you'd hire a full-time nurse to take care of you for at least a week. He'll want to come visit you then and see just how you're progressing."
Jeff's gaze shifted to a rehearsed, "Nursing for me?"
And then Suzanne's shifted to Nurse Watkins. "You're sure that's what the doctor said? Mr. Spencer didn't just bribe you into telling us that?"
Nurse Watkins looked indignant. "I was standing just where I am now when Dr. North gave Mr. Spencer his conditions."
"We didn't mean to cast aspersions on your character or your word, Nurse. But you have to understand, we've known this man a long time and he's pulled some tricks that would make Wiley Coyote jealous." Stuart smiled that cat and canary smile again, then turned to Jeff as if to say, "I told you I'd get even with you."
"Yes, I've noticed Mr. Spencer's tendency to exaggerate."
"Exaggerate he might, but he's a good man underneath, as I'm sure you already know."
Nurse Watkins simply smiled, picked up the tray she'd come in to retrieve, and left the room. "Wiley Coyote?" Jeff questioned.
"I didn't want to compare you to something callous. At least the coyote has a sense of humor . . . and a winning smile," Stu explained.
"That's something, at least," Jeff agreed.
Suzanne shook her head. "I've missed this . . . I think." She sat down next to the bed. "How are you, really, Jeff? No kidding around, are you going to be able to get along at home with a nurse and no pain medication?"
"I've already had several long talks with Dr. North about that very thing. He insists I should be fine. They're going to put me on a medication to regulate my heartbeat for a while, but he says that's only temporary. I should be back to my old self before you know it. Well, except for that hip. That's probably where I'll have the most trouble. Gil and I can limp around like two old gimps. How did you get off without a scratch, Stu?"
"I was just practice for him. I've got Roscoe in San Diego looking for the bastard right now."
"San Diego?"
"Rachel said he went down there one day. I think he rented a room, something to lay low in while the heat was on. We'll see what our friend the bird-dog finds. I'll get him, Jeff, one way or the other. He's taken the last shot he's ever going to take at Bailey and Spencer."
"Just be careful, my friend. We've all had our turn in the hospital, and once is enough."
"Amen to that," Suzanne nodded. "I can't stand another round of this."
"I'm going upstairs to see Rachel. She's getting out of the hospital today." That was some good news, at least.
"Are they headed back to Yuba City?"
"Not right away," Stu explained. "They've got some things to take care of here. Suzanne, you stay here and I'll pick you up when I come back down."
Suzanne and Jeff exchanged glances. "Yes, I think that's a good idea, Stuart. I'll be ready when you are."
XXXXXXXX
It took longer in the teenager's room than Stu anticipated, and it was almost an hour before he could get away and return to Jeff's room. When he entered room 212 Suzanne and Jeff were laughing, a sound he was glad to hear. "Sorry," he apologized. "It took longer than I thought. Are you ready, Suzanne?"
"I am, Stuart," she answered. Then she bent over and kissed Jeff on the cheek. "You will behave yourself once you're released to go home. Remember, I'm arranging for the round-the-clock nurses, and they'll report to me. So I'll know if you do as you're supposed to. Is that clear, Mr. Spencer?" she asked.
"Yes, Major," he replied, and gave her a smart salute.
"I'll meet you downstairs," Stu told her, and Suzanne took her leave. "I certainly am glad to see the two of you getting along, Jefferson, compared to the last time you were together." Stuart laid his hand on Jeff's right arm. "Don't ever scare me like that again. I can't do this without you. Nor would I want to."
"I feel the same way, buddy," Jeff replied, starting to choke up.
"I'll talk to you later. Behave yourself."
"Always."
XXXXXXXX
Stuart and Suzanne got to the office before noon. Stu was happy to hear that the doctor would release his partner to home care, and happier still that Jeff and Suzanne seemed to have come to a more amicable understanding. Early afternoon was busy – Stu had meetings with Pacific Mutual and Western States Insurance, both Jeff's clients, and Safeway Car Rentals, one of Stu's newest clients. He'd just said goodbye to Safeway and sat back to light his pipe when Suzanne buzzed him on the intercom.
"Stuart, line one . . . "
"I'm whipped, Suzanne. Take a message, would you?"
"You'll want to take this one, Stuart. It's Roscoe."
Stu quickly picked up line one. "Talk to me, Roscoe." Could Roscoe have been successful so quickly? Did he have a line on Tony Daggett? Stu could only hope. After everything Daggett had managed to get away with, Bailey thought it was about time somebody nailed that punk to the wall . . . and he intended it to be him.
"I might have found what you've been looking for, boss."
"Tony Daggett?" Stu asked.
"Yeah. You need to come down here, though. And I can't explain why over the phone."
Stu didn't hesitate. "How soon do you need me there? Tonight? Tomorrow?"
Roscoe put his hand over the receiver. Stu could hear the rumblings of a voice, but not the questions being asked or the answers given. Not until the Bailey and Spencer operative was back on the line could he decipher anything being said. "Uh, Stu?"
"When, Roscoe?"
"Tonight. As soon as you can get here."
"Anything I should bring?"
Roscoe thought for a minute. "Your gun. And that big stash of money you keep in your desk drawer? Bring that."
Stu smirked. He'd have to find a new hiding place for the emergency funds he kept on hand. "Where will you be?"
"516 Old Padre Road. Father Joe's is the name of the place. Don't dress up."
"On my way now, Roscoe." Stu hung up the phone and closed his office door, then reached for the bag he kept hanging there. He closed the blinds and quickly shed the suit he had on, replacing it with chino's and a polo shirt. Next on was the windbreaker from the bag; that went on over the polo shirt. It disguised the gun holster he'd just attached to his belt. Then he removed his wallet and P.I. license from the suit and dug into his desk for the cash he kept there. Lastly he hurried out into the lobby where he handed Suzanne a slip of paper. "Here's where I'm going. I don't know when I'll be back."
Before she could say anything Stu was out the door. Kookie pulled the new T-bird around. "Where you going, dad?"
"San Diego. Roscoe called with a lead on Daggett."
"I'm going with you," Kookie insisted as he climbed into the car.
"Kookie . . . "
"Don't argue, dad. You're wasting time. Let's go."
For once, Stu agreed and remained silent. He got behind the wheel, put the car in gear and squealed out of the parking lot. For better or worse, they were on the way to San Diego.